Nickandmore!

via The Hub press release:

Hub TV Network Announces Formation of Independent Advisory Board

— Comprised of Prominent Experts in Child Development, Education and Family Media, Advisory Board to Provide Advice and Insight Across Network’s Operation —

(Los Angeles, CA ) The Hub, a television network for children and their families, has formed an independent advisory board comprised of leading professionals with prominence in a broad range of specialized fields related to child development, education and family media. Announcement of the advisory board was made by Margaret Loesch, President and CEO of The Hub.

The members of The Hub Advisory Board will share with the network their knowledge and experience, and will provide professional advice and insight regarding new research, innovations and recommendations that impact the health, education and safety of children and their families. Initially numbering seven members, the board will expand as appropriate going forward, with several additional appointments anticipated in 2011.
Ms. Loesch also announced that The Hub Advisory Board will be chaired by noted educational psychologist and television industry specialist, Dr. Helen Boehm. Dr. Boehm brings to her role a long and respected history of children’s television advocacy.

The board members collectively bring to the network expertise in children’s education, health and nutrition, age-appropriate cognitive, physical and social-emotional learning, media literacy and Internet usage and safety.

“The value to us of this board as we build The Hub cannot be overstated,” said Ms. Loesch. “Now more than ever children — and families — are besieged with the influences of a tech-savvy and high pressure outside world. As a television network we realize the enormous influence we exert and the responsibility that this brings. We have a unique opportunity to be a positive influence in children’s development and in their lives. The guidance of The Hub Advisory Board will enable us to become part of the solution, and make better informed and more insightful decisions about the content and presentation of our programs.

“We’re extremely fortunate that Dr. Boehm agreed to assemble this impressive and diverse team of experts and to serve as its first chairperson. With Helen’s experience, passion and dedication, she is a wonderful choice to lead our new board’s efforts,” added Ms. Loesch.

Dr. Boehm said: “I’m eager to be the catalyst for this board to support Margaret’s mission for The Hub. The members of this board are not typical ‘ivory-tower’ academic researchers, but are respected professionals working in the field with unique areas of specialization and expertise. The Hub Advisory Board will bring important perspectives on learning and diverse ways of thinking to the table. Our mandate from Margaret is to help the creative professionals at the network better understand the developmental issues that children today face – what makes kids “tick” – and how the Hub can best meet the entertainment needs and concerns of our viewing families.”

The members of The Hub Advisory Board:

Dr. Helen Boehm chairs The Hub Advisory Board, where she shares her expertise in social-emotional learning and educational programming. A former director of the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) and a professor at the City University of New York, she served as Senior Vice President for Responsibility and Standards at MTV Networks/Nickelodeon and at the Fox Network. She is the founder of FCCReady.com and the author of Fearless Parenting for the New Millennium and The Right Toys: A Guide to Selecting the Best Toys for Children.

Dr. Ralph I. Lopez is The Hub’s advisor on adolescents and developmental concerns in pediatric psychiatry. A Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, he frequently speaks to medical, educational and parent associations about youth, bullying and gang issues as well as aggression and sexuality. He is the author of The Teen Health Book and widely recognized as a physician, mentor and friend to hundreds of children and families in his NYC-based practice.

Dr. Karen Hill Scott is the early childhood and pre-school media advisor to The Hub. An expert in kindergarten public policy, preschool curriculum and programming, she co-founded Crystal Stairs, one of California’s largest non-profit child development agencies. She is the principal of the Karen Hill Scott Company, a consultancy that advises television networks and production companies on programming for children and families. An advocate for early education, Dr. Hill Scott serves on the National Pre-Kindergarten Committee for the Education Commission of the States.

Dr. Sharon Cooper, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, is a specialist in “forensic pediatrics” and The Hub’s special advisor for issues concerning developmental pediatrics. She serves on the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School and is a nationally renowned expert in the evaluation of child exploitation and neglect. As a pediatrician for more than three decades, she continues to share her expertise as a consultant to the Department of Justice and the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is the founder of Developmental Forensic Pediatrics, which provides medical care to young victims of abuse.

Susan Borra is a highly regarded registered dietitian and food expert, and an authority on children’s health and nutrition. She is a special advisor to The Hub on childhood obesity issues and family fitness policy. Her experience spans more than 30 years in the field of nutrition, during which time she has served as president of both the American Dietetic Association and the International Food Information Council Foundation. She is the Senior Vice President of Communications for the Food Marketing Institute, providing guidance to the food industry through its retail trade association.

Dr. Larry Magid is an expert in media technology for children and The Hub’s special advisor for interactive technology, internet safety and privacy. He is an on-air technology reporter for CBS Radio and a co-author of MySpace Unraveled: A Parent’s Guide to Teen Social Networking and Cruising Online: Larry Magid’s Guide to the New Digital Highway. An innovator, and active in the creation of national technology policy, he is a member of White House Online Safety & Technology Working Group and the co-founder of ConnectSafely.org and founder of SafeKids.com. He serves on the Board of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Dr. Donna Mitroff is a highly regarded educational psychologist and expert in children’s media standards and evaluation. As the founder of Mitroff and Associates, she works closely with creators of children’s programming in the development of age-appropriate content for TV and new mobile devices. She served as Senior Vice President at Fox Family Worldwide and as a producer of educational programming. As an advisor to The Hub, she shares her expertise on standards and practices in family programming. She is also a former President of Mediascope and adjunct professor at the USC’s Annenberg School of Communication.

About The Hub
The Hub is a multi-platform joint venture between Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) and Hasbro, Inc., (NYSE: HAS) with a goal of entertaining, enlightening, empowering and educating children and their families. The cable and satellite television network features original programming as well as content from Discovery’s library of award-winning children’s educational programming; from Hasbro’s rich portfolio of entertainment and educational properties built during the past 90 years; and from leading third-party producers worldwide. The Hub lineup includes animated and live-action series, specials and game shows, and the network extends its content through a robust and engaging online presence. The Hub rebranded from Discovery Kids on October 10, 2010, and reaches approximately 61 million U.S. households. The online home of The Hub is www.hubworld.com. The Hub logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.